It was the next morning and James woke up to hear the shower running. He also discovered that he was alone in his bed, so he assumed Sirius was the one in the shower. Sitting on his bed he rested his head in his hands. How was he supposed to make a decision this soon?

Suddenly the shower shut off. That meant that Sirius hadn't just gotten in, as James had thought. Now he was really nervous. Maybe he would just see what kind of mood Sirius was in before he made any decision. He definitely didn't want to end things with Sirius, he just needed to know that he wasn't going to run off if they argued again - and that he was in the same place as James.

"Hey."

James jumped a little, startled by Sirius standing suddenly right behind him. When James turned around his plans were driven out of his mind because Sirius was wearing nothing but towel, which hung loosely around his waist.

"Hey," James said. Sirius sat next to James on the bed, trying very hard to keep the smile off his face.

"I'm sorry about last night," Sirius said, fixing his towel so that it still covered him as he sat down.

"Yeah me too."

"I thought we decided you weren't at fault?"

"We never decided anything like that."

"I did."

"You're not going to drop this, are you?" James asked with a playful smile.

"You might be able to make me," Sirius said, also grinning.

James took the hint and pushed Sirius onto the bed, roughly. He then started kissing Sirius all over his chest, but not lightly, and after every few kisses he would bite Sirius somewhere and leave a mark. Sirius liked a little roughness now and then, and he couldn't help a few moans from escaping his lips. After a few minutes Sirius felt James pushing his towel up slowly.

"You ready to drop it now?" James asked. He was hoping Sirius would say no.

Sirius grinned mischievously. "No." And then James started biting the inside of his thigh….

A week into August and James's parents had taken the two boys to Diagon Alley to get their school things. James still hadn't managed to find a chance to talk to him. Not that James hadn't tried, but the closer it got to the day they had to leave for school, the longer the two of them stayed shut up in James's room. It wasn't exactly as if James could talk to him during these times, his mouth was usually busy doing something else.

James hated to possibly ruin their last couple weeks together, but he really needed to talk to Sirius. So after dinner while they were getting ready for bed he finally brought it up.

"Hey, Sirius? I need to ask you a question."

"Okay," Sirius sounded hesitant. "What's up?"

"Well, I was thinking…after that night…you know, when - "

"When I left?" Sirius suggested. His eyes downcast.

"Well - yeah. Um, after that I did some thinking, and I need to know where you are." James paused, needing to clarify himself but not knowing how to say what he wanted to. "Where you are…with us, I mean."

James heard Sirius sigh slowly. "You're just bringing this up now?"

"Well, you kind of distracted me since then…" James smiled weakly but felt it falter.

Sirius noticed, and he wanted to make this easier for James. "Well, I really care about you, you know that. But…"

James frowned. "But…?"

"I guess I just don't want a serious relationship. I told you that to begin with, but I never expected to feel this strongly about you. But…I still don't want a serious relationship. I just don't feel…I don't know…"

James nodded slowly. "I thought you felt that way. I'm sorry, but I think I want something serious."

"With me?" Sirius asked disbelievingly.

"With anyone, but since I'm with you, you would be the best idea." James was trying to add a joking tone to his voice, but Sirius picked up on the more meaningful words.

Sirius thought he would ask the most obvious question. "So…where does that leave us?"

"Well, I guess that leaves us as just friends. Doesn't it?"

"I guess so." Sirius was trying to put on a brave front, but he felt like his voice might start cracking soon. He needed air again, but knew better than to leave like last time. This time he wasn't angry, he just didn't want James to see him break down if that was going to happen.

"This is going to be awkward, isn't it?" James had sat silently watching Sirius, and he saw how Sirius was hurting. Not that James wasn't, but he wanted to pretend he was stronger than this.

"Probably…for a bit," Sirius admitted. It was the truth, anyway.

"Do you still want to stay here? I can help pay for an apartment or something…"

"No, don't worry about it, it won't be that awkward. I'll just sleep in the spare room. That's where your parents think I sleep anyway."

"Maybe…"

Sirius looked up at James finally. "Maybe what?"

"Never mind, I was just - "

"Maybe what, Prongs?" Sirius had hoped the nickname would bring a more casual tone to the conversation, and it seemed to have worked.

"I was gonna say…maybe we could have a last night together? Or would that be too awkward?"

Sirius smiled and almost laughed. "That might actually take away some of the awkwardness."

"You think?" James asked, eager now.

"Well, only one way to find out, right?" And with that they fell back on James's bed.